Sexual Health Issues in Women with Cancer

Talk with your doctor to learn what to expect and how to manage changes that may affect your sexual life.

Credit: iStock

Women being treated for cancer may experience changes that affect their sexual life during, and sometimes after, treatment. While you may not have the energy or interest in sexual activity that you did before treatment, feeling close to and being intimate with your spouse or partner is probably still important.

Your doctor or nurse may talk with you about how cancer treatment might affect your sexual life, or you may need to be proactive and ask questions such as: What sexual changes or problems are common among women receiving this type of treatment? What methods of birth control or protection are recommended during treatment?

Other questions to consider asking are listed at the end of this page. For more information about how treatment may affect your fertility, see Fertility Issues in Girls and Women.

Whether or not your sexual health will be affected by treatment depends on factors such as:

Cancer Treatments May Cause Sexual Problems in Women

Some problems that affect a woman’s sexual health during treatment are temporary and improve once treatment has ended. Other side effects may be long term or may start after treatment. Your doctor will talk with you about side effects you may have based on your treatment(s):

Chemotherapy can lower estrogen levels and cause primary ovarian insufficiency. This means the ovaries aren’t producing hormones and releasing eggs. Symptoms may include hot flashes, irregular or no periods, and vaginal dryness, which can make sexual intercourse difficult or painful. Chemotherapy can also affect vaginal tissue, which may cause sores.

Surgery for gynecologic cancers may affect your sexual life. Treatment for other cancers can also bring about physical changes that may affect the way you view your body. Your health care team will talk with you about what to expect and teach you how to adjust after surgery, such as after a mastectomy or an ostomy, for example.

Ways to Manage Sexual Health Issues

People on your health care team have helped others to cope during this difficult time and can offer valuable suggestions. You may also want to talk with a sexual health expert to get answers to any questions or concerns.

Most women can be sexually active during treatment, but you’ll want to confirm this with your doctor. For example, there may be times during treatment when you are at increased risk of infection or bleeding and may be advised to abstain from sexual intercourse.

Your health care team can help you:

Learn about medicine and exercises to make sex more comfortable, including:

vaginal gels or creams to stop a dry, itchy, or burning feeling

vaginal lubricants or moisturizers

vaginal estrogen cream that may be appropriate for some types of cancer

a dilator to help prevent or reverse scarring, if radiation therapy or graft-versus-host disease has affected your vagina

exercises for pelvic muscles to lower pain, improve bladder retention, improve bowel function, and increase the flow of blood to the area, which can improve your sexual health

Manage related side effects: Talk with your doctor or nurse about problems such as pain, fatigue, hair loss, loss of interest in activities, sadness, or trouble sleeping, that may affect your sex life. Speaking up about side effects can help you get the treatment and support you need to feel better.

Learn about condoms and/or contraceptives: Condoms may be advised to prevent your partner’s exposure to some types of chemotherapy that may remain in vaginal secretions. If you are of childbearing age, contraceptives may be advised to prevent pregnancy while you are receiving treatment and for a period of time following treatment. For more information, see Fertility Issues in Girls and Women.

Get support and counseling: During this time, you can gain strength and support by sharing your concerns with people you are close to. You may also benefit from participating in a professionally moderated or led support group. Your nurse or social worker can recommend support groups and counselors in your area.

Radiation Therapy Audio Transcript

What Women Can Do About Changes in Sexuality and Fertility

Narrator: What women can do about changes in sexuality and fertility caused by radiation therapy.

You may be wondering if radiation therapy could affect your sex life. Let's listen to a discussion between Dr. Williams and women in a support group as they talk first about sexuality issues that relate to all women getting radiation therapy. And then to questions from women receiving radiation therapy to the pelvic area - such as to the vagina, uterus, or ovaries - about fertility issues. Let's listen in on their discussion.

Gina: Dr. Williams, I'm Gina. My husband and I had a pretty active sex life before I started treatment. Now, I'm just not in the mood. Is this normal?

Dr. Williams: Yes it is, Gina. You're going through a lot these days. Coping with cancer, feeling very tired, or being in pain can lower sexual desires. Try to be easy on yourself. It can help to talk with your husband about what you're feeling. There are many ways to stay close during this time other than having sex. Holding, hugging, and cuddling are ways that help many people stay connected.

Kim: That's true, Dr. Williams. My partner and I sit side by side when we watch TV. And sometimes we give each other backrubs. My question is about whether or not I need to use birth control during radiation therapy.

Dr. Williams: Yes, women who've not yet gone through menopause and who are having intercourse should talk with their doctor about birth control and ways to keep from getting pregnant.

It's very important not to get pregnant during radiation therapy. The treatment can harm an unborn baby.

Dr. Williams: I'm sorry to hear that. This is a common side effect for women getting radiation to the pelvis. Many women are helped by products such as Replens, Astroglide, or K-Y liquid. These products help make the vagina moist. Your doctor may also suggest a gel or cream to stop an itchy, dry, or burning feeling.

In some cases, something called a dilator can also help. It stretches the vagina. Talk with your nurse to learn more about this product.

Cara: Dr. Williams, before I got cancer my husband and I were ready to start a family. Now I'm not so sure if that's going to be possible. What can we do?

Dr. Williams: Cara, I'm glad you asked about that. First, it's good to know that there are more fertility options these days than there used to be. It's best to talk with your doctor before treatment starts if you'll be receiving radiation therapy to the pelvis and would like to get pregnant after radiation therapy.

Your doctor can talk with you about things you can do now to plan for the future or refer you to a fertility specialist.

Any more questions?

Well, okay—it's been a pleasure to talk with all of you. I'll be staying around to answer any individual questions that you may have.

Narrator Summary: Remember—you may have less desire for sex during radiation therapy. Talk with your partner to find new ways to show affection and feel connected.

If you are having sex, make sure to use birth control since radiation therapy can harm an unborn baby.

And for women getting radiation to the pelvis there are 2 suggestions:

First, ask your nurse about products that can help make the vagina feel more comfortable or stretch the vagina.

Second, talk with your doctor before treatment if you are interested in having children after treatment. There are things you can do now to plan for the future.

Finally, be sure to talk with your health care team to learn more about how to manage and prepare for any changes in sexuality and fertility that may happen.

If you would like to reproduce some or all of this content, see Reuse of NCI Information for guidance about copyright and permissions. In the case of permitted digital reproduction, please credit the National Cancer Institute as the source and link to the original NCI product using the original product's title; e.g., “Sexual Health Issues in Women with Cancer was originally published by the National Cancer Institute.”